One person dead in Limbe market fire
An unidentified man has been killed in an inferno that gutted part of Limbe market in Blantyre on Thursday night.
Police say the fire destroyed seven drinking shacks (shabeens) that were being used for selling the illicit local gin known as Kachasu.
Limbe Police Public Relations officer said particulars of the deceased were yet to be identified.
“The fire occurred at the place where people sell Kachasu and affected only seven shops,” said Chibwezo.
At the time of the incident, according to police, the deceased person, suspected to have been drunk, was sleeping in one of the shabeens that caught fire.
Chibwezo said apart from the deceased man, there were no other injuries and very little property whose estimated cost has not been done was destroyed during the incident.
Meanwhile, police say they have intensified investigations to find out the real cause of the incident.
But some people believe one of the drunkards might have accidentally throw a burning stick of matches or cigarette as the place is notorious for smoking various types of cigarettes including the illegal Indian Hemp.
Police are also appealing to members of the general public whose relative is missing to visit Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre to identify the body at the mortuary.
Market fires have been common in the just ending 2011 year.
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